Cleaning device

ABSTRACT

A cleaning device having one or more water holding tanks having associated water supply outlets connected thereto and an associated pumping means to effect a supply of cleaning water under pressure from each of the one or more holding tanks; the device further including one or more return tanks having associated therewith a water return tank and a water return inlet and associated suction means to allow collection of water into the one or more return tanks. The water holding tanks are in fluid communication with the return tanks and having a series of intermediary filter and baffle elements positioned in a water flow path such that water passing from a return tank to a holding tank is subjected to sequential settling action en route.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a cleaning device. In particular, thepresent invention relates to a device and method used for cleaningsurfaces such as roadways. Further, the present invention relates to acleaning device that permits the recycling of cleaning water.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are many occasions on which small areas of a road way or othersimilar surface might require cleaning and washing over a limited area.For example, where road works involve the cutting of sections of theroad large amounts of dust and particulate concrete and so on areproduced in the cutting action. Similarly, where spills of particulatematter occur quantities of the contaminant may remain after the roadsurface has been swept. In the past the response to such situations hasbeen simple to flush the affected surface and allow the particulatematerial, dust and the like to be washed into a stormwater drain andcarried away. However, it has now been recognised that water resourcesare precious and that water catchment flowing into reservoirs, and intostreams, rivers and oceans should not be contaminated undesirablematerials. Local authorities have assumed some responsibility for waterresource management and have taken steps to ensure that only appropriatematerials enter the water supply.

To ensure that actions comply with legislation it is necessary toprevent materials from entering the storm water system. The presentinvention has been conceived with this in mind.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, according to a first aspect of the present invention there isprovided a cleaning device including:—

-   -   one or more water holding tanks having associated water supply        outlets connected thereto and an associated pumping means to        effect a supply of cleaning water under pressure from the one or        more holding tanks;    -   one or more return tanks having associated therewith a water        return tank and a water return inlet and associated suction        means to allow collection of water into the one or more return        tanks;    -   the one or more holding tanks being in fluid communication with        the one or more return tanks and having a series of intermediary        filter and baffle elements positioned in a water flow path such        that water passing from a return tank to a holding tank is        subjected to sequential settling action en route.

Thus, the device of the invention is adapted to hold a store of cleaningwater in a holding tank and supply the cleaning water, under pressure toa surface to be cleaned. Through the return inlets used water can becollected under suction and held in the return tank. The used water mayalso incorporate a number of contaminant particulate materials which itwould be undesirable to recirculate. The intermediary baffle elementsallow a series of sequential separating steps to occur that remove theunwanted material. The device of the invention has been conceivedprincipally for use in cleaning of road surfaces and, for this reason ispreferably made of a relatively rugged construction. Further, it is notthe purpose of the device to seek to remove all particulate contaminantsbut to clean the water sufficiently to allow recirculating of the waterfor further flushing and cleaning purposes.

The inventor has thus realised that for many cleaning and flushingpurposes a traditional filter arrangement is unsuitable. For example afilter that is overly fine may require a high degree of maintenance andbe subject to frequent blocking. Similarly a filter of too high aspecification may require large amounts of energy, typically in the formof increased pressure to ensure that the a sufficient flow rate of watercan be maintained through the unit. The unit of the invention providesfor a relatively simple and rapid residency time that enables the waterto be subject to a multi-stage settling and cleaning of grosscontaminants.

Preferably, intermediary filter and baffle elements includes a firstbasket filter located below an inlet of the return tank and adapted tocollect and retain large particulate material that settles under theaction of gravity.

The intermediary filter and baffle elements may further include one ormore settling area located in either the holding tank or the returntank, the settling area allowing water to remain there for a period andto allow particulate contaminants to settle and to allow water to passout of the settling area by means of a water overflow or underflowdevice.

Preferably, the suction means associated with the one or more returntanks comprises a vacuum operative to produce a vacuum in a head spacein the return tank. In such an arrangement, by maintaining the liquidlevel in the return tank and the supply tanks the vacuum side of thedevice may be separated from the pressure side of the device.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

For a clearer understanding of all its aspect the invention will now bedescribed by way of example only with reference to the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows in schematic perspective view a cleaning device inaccordance with a first aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates the cleaning device of FIG. 1 including all hoseconnections;

FIG. 3 illustrates in cross section the cleaning device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shos a cutaway sectional view of a portion of the device of FIG.1;

FIG. 5 illustrates in rear perspective view a second embodiment of theinvention; and

FIG. 6 illustrates a third embodiment of the invention

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Shown in the drawings are cleaning devices 10 (FIGS. 1-4), 60 (FIG. 5),and 100 (FIG. 6). In each case the devices 10,60 and 100 operate onsimilar principles and have a number of features in common. The cleaningdevices 10, 60, 100 are designed to be filled with a recirculating watersupply and include a number of interconnected water holding tanks. Wherelike features are described in the drawings like numerals will be usedto refer to these features.

Turning to the device illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, the cleaning device 10includes an arrangement of three separate water holding tanks being acentrally located water return tank 12 and two outer water holding andsupply tanks 14 a, 4 b respectively. In the embodiment underconsideration the tanks of the device are constructed of steel and havebeen hot dip galvanized to improve their corrosion resistance. As can beseen to bets advantage in FIG. 2, the tanks 12, 14 a and 14 b haveassociated therewith water supply hoses 16 a, 16 b, a water return hose18 and sundry pipe connections to be described in detail hereinbelow. Inbroad detail water circulates through the system from the tanks 14 a, 14b through the hoses 16 a, 16 b and is returned through the return hose18 into the return tank 12.

The water supply system is driven by a pump 20 positioned beneath thereturn tank 12, which is elevated with respect to the supply tanks 14a,14 b to accommodate the pump 20. Leading out of the pump 20 is asupply manifold pipe 22 to which the hoses 14 a and 14 b are connected.The supply from each of the hoses 16 a, 16 b is also controlled by meansof respective valves 24 a, 24 b. Each of the hoses 16 a and 16 b areattached to a respective hose reel 26 a and 26 b connected to the uppersurface of the supply tanks 14 a, 14 b.

The pump 20 draws a water supply from the supply tanks 14 a, 14 bthrough supply line 28 which has an opening 28 a, 28 b in each of thetanks 14 a, 14 b. The tanks 14 a, 14 b hold a supply of cleaned water tobe used in the cleaning and mopping process for which the device 10 issuited. Thus, the openings 28 a, 28 b of the supply line 28 are locatedspaced apart from the base of the tanks 14 a, 14 b.

The return tank 12 includes an inlet point 30 to which is attached theinlet hose 18. The inlet hose 18 terminates in a suction head 34 used tocollect water that has been used for flushing/cleaning actions and anyspills needed to be collected. The inlet point 30 is close to an uppercorner of the return tank 12.

Adjacent the inlet point 30 and positioned on top of the return tank 12is a vacuum device 36. The vacuum device 36 is in fluid communicationwith the suction head 34 through the hose 32 and serves to provide themotive force that collects water through the suction head. The vacuumdevice has an external power supply (not shown).

Alternatively, the vacuum device can be connected to a mains powersupply or to a vehicle power supply.

The device 10 is not designed for the purposes of producing a pristinesurface and there is no requirement that the water, or other fluidsupplied from the tanks 14 a,14 b be entirely free of contamination. Forgeneral flushing and cleaning purposes it is, however, preferable thatany gross contaminants are removed from the water. It will also beappreciated that larger particulate contaminants in the water couldpotentially interfere with the action of the pump apparatus 20 and thataccordingly it is desirable to have such particles removed.

Water or other fluid entering the return tank 12 through the inlet point30 is confined to a corner of the return tank 12 by means of an angularbaffle 38 that, together with the corner of the tank 12 defines agenerally columnar space that extends downwardly from an upper corner ofthe tank 12 to a lower corner of the tank 12. The base of the returntank 12 below the baffled section 38 slopes towards downwardly. Thus,water entering the return tank 12 is directed to travel downwardly inthe space and any heavy particulate material carried in the watersettles at the bottom of the tank 12 which has a sloping bottom 40 tofacilitate this process. In some forms of the invention a removablecollecting basket (not shown) can be positioned below the columnarsection to facilitate easy removal of any material collected.

As the liquid level in the return tank 12 rises a separation of theheavier contaminants from the water has occurred, and, accordingly, thewater towards the upper surface is cleaner. At a certain point the waterlevel encounters a series of overflow apertures 42 in the sides 41 ofthe return tank 12 that are common to the return tank 12 and the holdingtanks 14 a, 14 b on either side of the tank 12. The apertures 42 aregenerally aligned horizontally and allow water to flow from the returntank 12 into each of the water holding tanks 14 a, 14 b. The overflowapertures are positioned such that the water flows into the waterholding tanks 14 a, 14 b at an upper edge thereof.

The water holding tanks 14 a, 14 b are partitioned from their upperedges by a partition 44 that extends parallel to the inner sides 41 ofthe tanks 14 a, 14 b from an upper inside surface of the tanks 14 a, 14b towards the bottom of the tanks. A gap 46 exists between a lower edgeof the partition 44 and the base of the tanks 14 a, 14 b.

Thus water entering the tanks 14 a, 14 b is initially directed in adownward flow direction thereby encouraging any remaining undesirableparticulate material to settle on the base of the tanks. As the levelrises in the tanks 14 a, 14 b, the water is available for recirculationthrough the openings 28 a, 28 b.

Thus, in use the device 10 may be carried on a trailer to any site whereit is needed and with relatively low water wastage perform a cleaning orsurface flushing function. Where the device becomes full of liquidunsuitable for further use it is possible to drain each of the tanks 12,14 a, and 14 b through lowermost drain holes 50. Similarly, at anyremote location, the tanks can be opened through hinged lids 52 for morethorough cleaning.

An alternative form of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 5. In mostrespects the device 60 is identical to the device 10. However, locatedat the rear of the device is a pair of element filters 62 arranged inseries in the supply line extending from the pump 20. The elementfilters 62 each have attached thereto a respective purge valve 64 thatenables the line to be purged should the line become blocked. Furtherthe arrangement can be set up such that the pump stops when the filterbecomes blocked. Such an arrangement might be preferred where a positivedisplacement pump is used in the device.

It is also possible to create a cleaning device in accordance with theinvention using modular tanks that are inter connected to allow flowthere between. FIG. 6 illustrates such an arrangement where threedistinct tanks are used to create an arrangement 100.

The invention has been described by way of example. The examples arenot, however, to be taken as limiting the scope of the invention in anyway. Modifications and variations of the invention such as would beapparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of theinvention.

1. A cleaning device including; a water holding tank having anassociated water supply outlet connected thereto and an associatedpumping means to effect a supply of cleaning water under pressure fromthe holding-tank; a return tank having associated therewith a waterreturn inlet and associated suction means to allow collection of waterinto the return tank; the holding tank being in fluid communication withthe return tank and having a series of intermediary filter and baffleelements positioned in a water flow path such that water passing fromthe return tank to the holding tank is subjected to sequential settlingaction en route.
 2. The cleaning device according to claim 1, whereinthe intermediary filter and baffle elements include a first basketfilter located below an inlet of the return tank and adapted to collectand retain large particulate material that settles under the action ofgravity.
 3. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein theintermediary filter and baffle elements may include one or more settlingareas located in either the holding tank or the return tank, eachsettling area allowing water to remain there for a period to allowparticulate contaminants to settle.
 4. The cleaning device according toclaim 3, wherein water passes out of the settling area by means of oneof a water overflow or water underflow device.
 5. The cleaning deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the suction means associated with thereturn tank comprises a vacuum device operative to produce a vacuum in ahead space in the return tank; and wherein a liquid level in the returntank and the holding tank is maintained whereby the vacuum side of thecleaning device is separated from the pressure side of the cleaningdevice.
 6. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein there isprovided an arrangement of three separate water tanks being a centrallylocated water return tank and two outer water holding tanksrespectively.
 7. The cleaning device according to claim 6; furthercomprising a pump positioned beneath the centrally located water returntank, the pump drawing water from each water holding tank.
 8. Thecleaning device according to claim 7, in which a supply manifold pipeleads out of the pump, the supply manifold having connected theretohoses controlled by means of respective valves.
 9. The cleaning deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the water holding tank and the waterreturn tank of the cleaning device are constructed of steel and are hotdip galvanized to improve corrosion resistance.
 10. The cleaning deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the return tank includes a vacuum devicein fluid communication with a suction head through a hose.
 11. Thecleaning device according to claim 1, wherein fluid entering the returntank through the water return inlet is confined to a corner of thereturn tank by means of a baffle that, together with the corner of thereturn tank defines a generally columnar space extending downwardly froman upper corner of the return tank to a lower corner of the return tank.12. The cleaning device according to claim 11, wherein the return tankincludes a base; and that portion of the base of the return tank belowthe generally columnar space slopes downwardly to encourage settling ofparticulate material on the base of the return tank.
 13. The cleaningdevice according to claim 12, additionally including a removablecollecting basket positioned below the columnar space to facilitate easyremoval of any particulate material collected.
 14. The cleaning deviceaccording to claim 1, in which the water return tank has sides whichinclude a series of overflow apertures therein, the overflow aperturesserving to allow water from the return tank to pass into the waterholding tank.
 15. The cleaning device according to claim 14, in whichthe water holding tank has inner sides; an upper inside surface and abase; and wherein the holding tank is partitioned by a partition thatextends parallel to the holding tank's inner sides from the upper insidesurface downwardly towards the base of the holding tank, the partitionleaving a gap between a lower edge of the partition and the base of theholding tank, and wherein the partition is located adjacent a side ofthe holding tank which includes the overflow apertures from the returntank; whereby water entering the holding tank from the return tank isinitially directed in a downward flow encouraging any remainingundesirable particulate material to settle on the base of the holdingtank.
 16. The cleaning device according to claim 1; in which a supplyline leading from the pump is equipped with a series of element filters,the element filters each having attached thereto a purge valve thatenables the supply line to be purged should the line become blocked. 17.The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the water return andwater holding tanks are constructed separately in modules and areconnected for use.
 18. The cleaning device according to claim 1, whereinthe device includes one or more water holding tanks in fluidcommunication with one or more water return tanks.